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Hilton to offer faster Wi-Fi for a fee at some hotels

Hilton Worldwide will begin offering faster Wi-Fi at hotels that offer it for free—for a price. The new Wi-Fi tier will become an option at Hilton's limited service and extended stay brands: Hampton Inn,

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Hilton Worldwide will begin offering faster Wi-Fi at hotels that offer it for free—for a price.

The new Wi-Fi tier will become an option at Hilton's limited service and extended stay brands: Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites and Home 2 Suites.

Josh Weiss, vice president of brand and guest technology for Hilton, says the hotels will start offering the faster Wi-Fi in the next two months and roll it out to all hotels in those brands throughout this year.

The price will vary depending on the location, but guests will typically be charged $3.95. They will be able to use it on up to three devices.

Weiss says guests have indicated in surveys that they would be willing to pay for upgraded bandwith.

"It's no secret. We all know that that's one of the most important amenities," Weiss says of Wi-Fi. "We're really trying to do this in a way that not only acknowledges guests who want faster speeds but also the prevalence of multiple devices."

A number of hotels offer tiered pricing for Wi-Fi, including many Marriott properties. Free Internet ranks at the top of the list of surveys that track the most coveted hotel amenities. But travelers often complain that some Internet connections at hotels are too slow.

"Giving hotel guests choices is usually a smart brand strategy, assuming the choices are not too many or too bewildering," says Chekitan Dev, marketing professor at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration and author of Hospitality Branding.

Hilton charges for basic Wi-Fi at some of its other brands, which is the industry standard. Some hotel chains have begun relaxing that policy. For instance, InterContinental Hotels Group has started giving free Wi-Fi to all its Rewards Club members. And Loews Hotels recently began offering free Wi-Fi in all guest rooms.